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“I got bumped,” I said. He wasn’t hearing very well tonight.
“Stay away from her,” Kaden said. His one hand was holding the jacket closed as the other wrapped around my waist, pulling me close to him.
“She’s your employee,” Alaric said. “She can choose to leave whenever she wants.”
Kaden ignored him, leading me back toward the doors that led to the main room.
Chapter Twenty-Two
We walked into the main room and all eyes were on us, including Antionette’s, which were about to set me on fire. I giggled.
“What happened to her?” she asked, looking me over with thinly veiled contempt. “You were right to tell her not to come. She obviously can’t handle herself.”
Kaden turned to deal with Antoinette while everyone watched.
I threw my hands up, smiling and then doing a twirl for them. If they were looking for a show, the least I could do was give it to them. They looked so shocked that there wasn’t much else to do but laugh.
Kaden’s hand was out, gripping the jacket closed again and leaving his hand there so I couldn’t keep spinning, or go anywhere else, for that matter.
I was trying to get his hand free while he was leaning closer to Antoinette, saying something I couldn’t hear. They continued talking quietly to each other as I tried to unclench his outstretched hand from my borrowed jacket.
When he turned his attention back to me, Antoinette walked off. He removed his belt and wrapped it around my waist to try to keep the jacket closed.
“How much did you get on you?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Why are you so angry looking?” I ran my finger across his forehead.
“You’re leaving, now.” His voice was soft but as steely as his grip on the belt about my waist. He looked about the room even as his hand felt like a steel trap.
“Why? I like the party. I want to stay,” I said, raising my hands and trying to dance in spite of his hold. They were playing a song from the eighties that made me want to jump up and down. Actually, the words even instructed you to jump, and the killjoy was holding me down.
“What the hell.” Dice rubbed his goatee as he stared at me. “I only left her alone for a little bit. Who knew how quickly she’d get into trouble? She made the most of her time.”
“You brought her. You take her home,” Kaden said, dragging me closer to Dice.
“I don’t want to go home. I want to stay at the party,” I said.
“You’ve partied enough for the evening,” Kaden said before ignoring any further protests I might make and turning to Dice. “Get her back, and don’t leave her alone until she’s passed out in her bed.”
“You got it,” Dice said, sounding as bummed as I was to be leaving early.
Dice grabbed my arm, tugging me after him like a kid sister he was dragging out of a frat party that was just getting going.
“Bye,” I said as we walked through the crowd. Everyone watched on, clearly sad I was leaving. “I’m sorry, but they’re making me leave.” I waved.
“Where are you going?” Cookie asked, catching up to us by the door.
“She’s a hot mess, and I’m stuck bringing her home.” Dice sounded a little sulky about the situation, like he’d gotten grounded too.
Cookie took a look at me and laughed. “Yeah, I caught some of the show.” She moved and opened the door. “Come on. I’ll go too. You’re taking the best entertainment with you anyway.”
I stumbled on my way out the door, and they both locked arms with me as we made our way outside.
“How much of that fountain did you get into?” Cookie asked.
“I don’t know, exactly. I fell… I think.” Did I fall? I kind of remember being bumped, but things were getting a little hazier for some reason.
“Okay, party girl. Time for bed.” Cookie walked to the outpost door and held it open for me.
